Doctor Who Episode Review: Midnight (2008)

Synopsis: The Doctor (David Tennant) decides to travel via tourist shuttle to see a sapphire waterfall on a planet that is bathed by a highly toxic radiation. The planet is believed to be uninhabited. But, the shuttle is soon invaded by a life form that is capable of inhabiting other bodies, leading to confusion and panic.

Review: This episode was on TV when I got up this morning and I wound up watching it. I've seen this episode one more than one occasion and, each time, I become more and more impressed with it.

I'm a big fan of horror movies, especially psychological thrillers, and this episode is as good as any of the films I've seen in that genre. At first, it is hard to tell if the creature is evil or just misunderstood. But, as it purposely tries to create confusion and manipulate the passengers on board the shuttle, it becomes very easy not to like it very much.

The thing that really impresses me about this episode is the non-stop intensity. The Doctor can't do anything right in the eyes of the other passengers. When he tries to help the creature, he is vilified. Then, when the creature convinces the passengers he is the one who is possessed, his life ends up in danger. It is actually quite scary at times and it was easy for me to stay on the edge of my seat as a result.

Another thing I like about this episode is the location. As I've stated in some movie reviews, location is everything when it comes to setting the mood and, in this case, I can't think of a better setting than a small shuttle on a planet that will kill you in a matter of seconds if you even open a window. The fact nobody on the shuttle could escape as a result of that made it even more entertaining.

Final Opinion: This is one of the best episodes from the series (especially after the 2005 relaunch) and one I would recommend watching if you like horror movies. As I said before, I enjoy it every time I watch it.

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